Safety adjuster for casements and the like



NW3 9 1935' E. F. soonwm SAFETY ADJUSTER FOR CASEMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1952 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY ADJUSTER FOR CASEMENTS AND THE LIKE This invention relates to safety adjusters for easements and the like and aims primarily to pro-- vide a novel and improved safety adjuster which is especially designed and adapted to rapidly and readily permit selective opening of its correlated casement to a safety ventilating position, full open position, or any position intermediate of full closed or full open positions, but which will positively not permit either further opening of such casement from a safety ventilating position, or returning said casement thereto from any position outwardly of the same, without first closing the casement and while the latter is closed resetting the safety adjuster to effect the desired opening for the casement.

contemplated by the present invention is a safety adjuster for a casement embodying a selector element having a neutral position when the casement is closed, from which position the selector element is adapted to be moved in either direction to secure the desired or selected opening of the casement, as for example, when said selector element is moved from its neutral position in one direction the easement can be opened 25 to a safety ventilating position and no further, it of course being understood that the casement may be opened to any position intermediate its closed position and said safety ventilating position, while if the selector element is moved in the 30 other direction from its neutral position the casement can be opened to its fullest extent, or to any position intermediate its closed position and a full open position, hence to effect further opening of the easement from a safety ventilat- 35 ing position or to return said casement thereto from any position outwardly thereof, it is essential and necessary that the selector element must always pass through its neutral position.

With the foregoing in view the invention es- 40 sentially resides and is more particularly concerned in the provision of a safety adjuster for a casement embodying an anchor plate, means for rigidly securing said anchor plate to the casement frame, an oscillative member pivot- 45 ally mounted upon said anchor plate and adapted to normally cover the securing means of the latter and thereby render same inaccessible when the safety adjuster is operatively attached to its casement, a bracket, safety means for 50 rigidly securing said bracket to the easement, an oscillative member pivotally mounted upon said bracket and adapted to be operatively connected to said first mentioned oscillative mem' her, and means for positively regulating oscilla- 55 tive movement of said members whereby selective opening of the casement to a safety ventilating position, full open position, or any intermediate position is effected, said means being adapted to prevent movement of said casement from a safety ventilating position to a position of 5 greater opening, or conversely, without first closing the casement and resetting said means while the casement is closed, all of which are important features of the invention and are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the 10 efficiency of the present safety adjuster for general use.

The above, and additional objects which will hereinafter be more specifically treated are attained by such means as are shown in the acl5 companying drawing, described in the following specification and then more clearly pointed out in the claims, which are appended hereto and form part of this application.

With reference to the drawing, in which there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, and t oughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts:

Figure 1 is a view in horizontal section of a casement frame and its correlated casement equipped with a safety adjuster comprehended by the present invention, as it would appear in a fully telescoped or retracted position with the casement closed.

Fig. 2 is a similar section with the casement in a partially open or normal ventilating position and with its safety adjuster in a corresponding extended safety position.

Fig. 3 is a similar section with the casement in a full open position and with its safety adjuster in a corresponding fully extended position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section of the safety adjuster in a telescoped or fully retracted position with the selector element thereof in its neutral position. 40

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the safety adjuster in a similar position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the mid-portion of the safety adjuster with the selector element of same shown in horizontal section for clarity of illustration, and also being shown at one end of the neutral slot and in aligned relation with the short or safety slot of the safety adjuster.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary inverted plan view of said mid-portion.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken through 8-8 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a similar section with the selector element shown at the opposite end of its neutral slot in aligned relation with the long slot of the safety adjuster.

Before taking up the detailed description of the drawing, a general exposition of the specific purposes, functions and advantages, of the safety adjuster evolved by the present invention will be undertaken.

The casement adjusters heretofore in general use have been particularly objectionable for the reason that when their easements were in partially open position for ventilating purposes no protection was provided or afforded against unauthorized entry, inasmuch as all that was necessary to gain entry was to loosen the usual and readily accessible clamping screws, or other fastening means of same, and open the easements to their fullest extent. Another objectionable feature of the easement adjusters formerly in general use has been that the same are too bulky, clumsy and unsightly.

It is therefore, one of the primary aims and purposes of the present invention to eliminate and obviate the foregoing objections to and disadvantages of the easement adjusters now in general use by providing a safety adjuster for casements, which when its correlated casement is in a safety ventilating position will positively prevent further opening of same from the outside. Another primary aim and purpose is to provide a safety adjuster for casements which is rapidly attach-able to a casement and its correlated frame and positively cannot be detached therefrom when said casement is in a safety ventilating position. Another primary aim and purpose is to provide a safety adjuster especially and particularly adaptable for use with any type of casement employing any type of hinge mounting. Another primary aim and purpose is to provide a safety adjuster for easements, which is comparatively compact, low and neat in construction and which may be attached to the casement and casement frame in any desired position or location thereon.

Beginning now the more detailed description of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawing, the numeral Ill designates a casement frame, H the stool or sill of said frame, and I2 a casement hingedly mounted at one side thereof to said frame, as indicated at l3, in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

The numeral I4 generally designates my novel and improved safety adjuster comprising an anchor plate [5 rigidly secured by screws l6 to the stool I I, substantially at a point thereon midway its length and adjacent the edge thereof. Pivotally connected at its inner end by a pin or rivet H to said anchor plate !5 is an elongated relatively shallow casing l8, preferably fabricated in the present instance from sheet metal or the like, and at its inner or pivoted end is reinforced by a block l9, which block also functions as a closure for said pivoted end, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4. For a purpose which will hereinafter be made more apparent the opposite or open end of the casing I8 is preferably formed with a tapered terminal portion 28, substantially in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. Formed within the upper wall of the casing I8 at a point substantially midway its length is a transversely disposed slot 2| and similarly formed in the lower wall of said casing in vertical align ment with the slot 2! is a slightly wider and longer slot 22, the purpose and function of which slots will hereinafter be described.

A relatively thin sliding member 23, fabricated from sheet metal or the like, is adapted to be telescopically mounted within the casing l8 and at its outer or normally projecting tapered end is adapted to be pivotally connected as at 24, to a bracket 25 rigidly secured by safety screws 26, or by rivets if desired, to the easement l2. Formed in spaced parallel relation within the inner half portion of the sliding member 23 is a relatively short longitudinally disposed safety slot 2? and a relatively long similarly disposed slot 28, which slots are connected at their outer or adjacent ends by a transversely disposed neutral slot 29.

The numeral 3% designates a selector element, which in the present instance is preferably in the form of a threaded pin or bolt, adapted to normally extend through the slotted portions of the casing 13 and sliding member 23, and at its lower end is provided with a squared head 3|,

which normally is seated within the slot 22 of the casing i8 for transverse sliding movement thereand at its upper projecting threaded end is adapted to threadedly receive a thumb or clamping nut 32, which nut is permanently retained upon said pin by peening the end of the latter thereon, substantially in the manner illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

With my novel and improved safety adjuster i4 operatively attached to the stool I! and the casement l2 in the manner herein shown and 4 described, the operation of the safety adjuster is as follows: The casement l2 being in the closed position illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the selector element or pin 36 is disposed in the neutral transverse slot 29 of the sliding member 23 and to open said casement 42 to its ventilating or safety position illustrated in Fig. 2, the selector element 39 is moved transversely in the slot 29 towards the easement l2 to the limit of its travel therein, to thereby bring said selector element 30 into alignment or registration with the relatively short longitudinally disposed safety slot 21, as shown more clearly in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, whereupon the casement I2 is pushed open causing the sliding member 23 to move outwardly within the casing l8 and the safety slot 2'! to travel upon the selector element 39 until the end of said safety slot abuts the latter, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the operator gives the nut 32 a partial turn to clamp the sliding member 23 to the upper wall of the casing !8, as will be readily apparent by referring to Figs. 8 and 9. Obviously, therefore, when the inner end of the safety slot 21 is in abutment with the selector element 353, further outward movement of the sliding member 23 from the casing I8 is impossible, hence it will be apparent that further opening of the easement l2 from the ventilating or safety position shown in Fig. 2 is also impos sible from the outside, it being here noted that when the easement I2 is in a ventilating or safety position, that such casement is not opened sufficiently to permit entrance between the same and its correlated frame. To effect a full open-- ing of the casement l2, as for example, from the ventilating position shown in Fig. 2, this can only be done from the inside and it is necessary therefore to first release the nut 32 and completely close the casement, which closing move ment of the latter causes the slot 2? to travel upon the selector element or pin (it until the outer end of said slot abuts the latter, and again aligns said pin with the neutral transverse slot 29, see Fig. 6, whereupon the operator transversely moves the selector element 30 within the neutral slot 28 away from the safety slot 27 to the limit of its travel in said slot, to thereby bring said selector element 3% into alignment or registration with the relatively long longitudinally disposed slot 28, as shown more clearly in Fig. 9, following which the casement I2 is pushed open causing the sliding member 23 to move outwardly within the casing 28 and the slot 28 to travel upon the selector element 36 until the inner end of said slot abuts the latter, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, at which time the operator gives the nut 32 a partial turn to clamp the sliding member '23 to the upper wall of the casing l8. The casement I2 is again closed by releasing the nut 32 and pulling the casement l2 inwardly, at which time the slot 28 travels upon the selector element 30 until the outer end of said slot abuts the selector element and the latter is again in alignment or registration with the neutral slot 29, whereupon the casement may again be opened to any desired degree.

Hereinbefore I have described the casing 18 as being provided with an open tapered end also the sliding member 23 as being provided with a tapered outer end, this for the dual purpose of providing, first, a casing E8 of sufficient length to at all times enclose the slots 21, 28 and 29 of the sliding'member 23, even when the latter is at the limit of its outward travel illustrated in Fig. 3, and second, to secure attachment of the pivotal end of the sliding member 23 as close to the easement l2 as possible, which manner of attachment necessitates tapering of said pivotal end.

t will be observed by referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, that the screws N5 of the anchor plate l5 are normally covered by the casing l3 and are therefore inaccessible when the safety adjuster is operatively mounted upon its correlated frame and casement, and as the screws 26 of the bracket 25 are of the safety type, it will be readily apparent that unauthorized entry is rendered impossible for all practical purposes.

In the present disclosure I have shown and described my novel and improved safety adjuster as being especially applicable to and adaptable for use with easements, but I desire to have it understood that my safety adjuster may also be employed with equal efiiciency upon transoms and other types of hinged windows or hinged ventilating panels, the present showing being merely by way of illustration.

Wherefore, it will be manifest and apparent, that the safety adjuster of the present invention provides a positive safety ventilating position for its correlated casement, from which position, such casement cannot be further opened until the same is closed and while closed said safety adjuster reset or passed through its neutral point to effect such further opening, from which further open position, in order to return the casement to its safety ventilating position, said casement must again be closed and while closed the safety adjuster again reset or passed through its neutral point in a reverse direction.

Manifestly, my safety adjuster is extremely simple, compact, durable and economical in construction, is reliable and efficient in use, is neat in appearance, is rapidly, readily and quietly operable, and can be installed with the minimum time and labor.

While I have herein shown and described the invention with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to understand the mode of construction and the principles involved, it is to be understood that there is no intentional limitation herein to the specific form and precise details of construction shownand described, except as expressly definedbythe appended claims, and that various modifications of the same may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the benefits derivable therefrom. It is also to be understood that certain features of the invention herein disclosed may be employed in and with other combinations than those shown and described.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with a casement and frame, of a safety adjuster comprising a slotted casing pivotally mounted upon said frame, a slotted sliding member mounted within said casing and pivotally connected to said casement, and a selector element extending through said casing and member for adjustment within the slots thereof, whereby selective opening of the easement to a safety ventilating position or to positions of greater opening is effected, said selector element and slots being adapted to positively prevent greater opening of the easement from a safety ventilating position without first closing the casement and resetting said selector element within the slots while the easement is closed.

2. The combination with a casement and frame, of a safety adjuster comprising an anchor plate adapted to be rigidly secured to said frame, a slotted casing pivotally mounted upon said anchor plate, a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to said casement, a slotted sliding member mounted Within said casing and pivotally connected to said bracket, and a selector element extending through said casing and member for adjustment within the slots thereof, whereby selective opening of the casement to a safety ventilating position or to positions of greater opening is effected, said selector element and slots being adapted to positively prevent greater opening of the easement from a safety ventilating position or conversely without first closing the easement and resetting said selector element within the slots while the easement is closed.

3. The combination with a casement and frame, of a safetyadjuster comprising an anchor plate, means for rigidly securing said anchor plate to said frame, a laterally slotted casing pivotally mounted upon said anchor plate adapted to normally cover the seeming means of the latter, a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to said casement, a laterally and longitudinally slotted sliding member mounted within said casing and pivotally connected to said bracket, and a selector element extending through said casing and member for adjustment within the slots thereof, whereby selective opening of the casement to a safety ventilating position or to positions of greater opening is effected, said selector element and slots being adapted to positively prevent greater opening of the easement from a safety ventilating position or conversely without first closing the easement and manipulating said selector element within the slots while the casement is closed.

4. The combination with a casement and frame, of a safety adjuster comprising a casing adapted to be pivotally mounted upon said frame and having a transversely disposed slot formed therein, a sliding member mounted within said casing and pivotally connected to said casement, said member having a J-shaped slot formed therein, and a selector element extending through said casing and member adapted to be transversely moved in the slot in said casing when the casement is closed for selectively registering said selector element with the legs of said J- shaped slot in said sliding member, whereby the easement may be selectively moved to a safety ventilating position or to a position of greater opening.

5. The combination with a safety adjuster for a casement, of a transversely slotted member, a second member slidably mounted upon said first mentioned member having a series of interconnected longitudinally disposed slots formed therein, and a selector element extending through the slotted portions of said members for transverse movement in the slot of said first mentioned member and for selective longitudinal movement in the longitudinally disposed slots of said second mentioned member.

6. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising a laterally slotted oscillative member pivotally mounted upon said frame, a laterally and longitudinally slotted oscillative member pivotally connected to said casement and slidably mounted upon said first mentioned oscillative member, and a selector element interconnecting said members and laterally adjustable relative thereto only when the easement is in an approximately closed position for effecting selective opening of the casement to a safety ventilating position or to positions of greater and varying degrees of opening.

7. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising amember attached to said frame, another member attached to said casement and mounted upon said first mentioned member for movement relative thereto, and means co-operating with said members for effecting selective opening of said casement to a safety ventilating position or to positions of greater and varying degree of opening, said means having a neutral position when the casement is substantially closed wherefrom the same is moved in opposite directions to obtain the selected degree of casement opening.

8. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising a member attached to said frame, another member pivotally connected to said casement and mounted upon said first mentioned member for movement relative thereto, and a selector element interconnecting said members and adjustable relative thereto, said selector element having a neutral position when the casement is closed wherefrom it is moved in one direction to obtain a limited degree of casement opening and in the opposite direction to obtain a greater and varying degree of casement opening.

9. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising an oscillative member pivotally mounted upon said frame, another oscillative member pivotally connected to said casement and slidable upon said first mentioned oscillative member, and a selector element interconnecting said members and laterally and longitudinally adjustable relative thereto, said selector element being adjustable only when said casement is substantially closed for effecting selective opening of said casement to a safety ventilating position, or to positions of greater and varying degree of opening.

10. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising an oscillative member pivotally mounted upon said frame, another oscillative member pivotally connected to said casement and slidably mounted upon said first mentioned oscillative member, and an adjustable selector element interconnecting said members, said selector element being mounted for lateral adjustment only upon one of said members and for joint lateral and longitudinal adjustment upon the other of said members whereby a limited degree of casement opening is obtained when the selector element is laterally moved in one direction and a greater and varying degree of casement opening is obtained when the selector element is moved in a reverse direction.

11. The combination with a frame and casement, of a safety adjuster comprising an oscillative member pivotally mounted upon said frame, another oscillative member pivotally connected to said casement and slidably mounted upon said first mentioned oscillative member, and a selector element interconnecting said members and laterally adjustable relative thereto, said selector element being laterally adjustable only when the easement is in a substantially closed position, whereby a limited degree of casement opening is obtained when the selector element is laterally moved in one direction and a greater and varying degree of casement opening is obtained when the selector element is laterally moved in a reverse direction.

EDWARD F. GOODWIN. 

